Lighted control console with lift-up information plate

ABSTRACT

An appliance control console having a hollow housing with a front control panel. An electrical lamp is located above the control panel for illuminating the panel. A lamp shield is assembled over the lamp so that the lamp is hidden from view. A hinged cover plate is attached to the housing and it has a first horizontal position superimposed over the lamp shield and a second vertical position for display purposes. The underside of the cover plate is provided with operational information for the controls. The lamp shield includes an opening for directing light rays onto the cover plate when it is in its vertical position for ease in reading the information.

United States Patent [191 Binzer etal.

LIGHTED CONTROL CONSOLE WITH LIFT-UP INFORMATION PLATE Inventors: Thomas J. Binzer, Louisville, Ky.;

Peter H. Wooding, Providence, R].

General Electric Company, Louisville, Ky.

Filed: Nov. 1, 1972 Appl. N0.: 302,658

Assignee:

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 6/1955 Chadwick et al. 240/2 PA 6/1971 Erickson 40/1241 Jan. 22, 1974 Crawford 240/2 PA Appleman 240/2.l X

[5 7 ABSTRACT An appliance control console having a hollow housing with a front control panel. An electrical lamp is located above the control panel for illuminating the panel. A lamp shield is assembled over the lamp so that the lamp is hidden from view. A hinged cover plate is attached to the housing and it has a first horizontal position superimposed over the lamp shield and a second vertical position for display purposes. The underside of the cover plate is provided with operational information for the controls. The lamp shield includes an opening for directing light rays onto the cover plate when it is in its vertical position for ease in reading the information.

5 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures LIGHTED CONTROL CONSOLE WITH LIFT-UP This application is related to application Ser. No.

302,773 entiled LIGHTED CONTROL CONSOLE- WITH INFORMATION CENTER of Thomas J. Binzer, which is being filed concurrently herewith.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates generally to a control console or backsplash for a major appliance such as an electric or gas free-standing range or an automatic clothes washer or dryer and possibly automatic dishwashers and the like. As technology improves each year, these improvements are designed into our labor-saving appliances, and the typical appliance manufacturer will provide the consumer with a variety of options ranging from the bottom of the line model which is a simple functional design and gradually adding operational and appearance design features into various step-up models until reaching the top end of the line model which would include the largest number of features and the most pleasing appearance design. One price that must be paid for a major appliance with many operational features is the amount of knowledge and skill needed to control the features to obtain the maximum benefit. Of course, every appliance is furnished with a Use and Care Book which explains the purpose of and the method of using the various features of the appliance. However, the average person does not wish to read a long treatise on unfamiliar subjects in order to be qualitied to operate an appliance or an automobile or an office machine or the like. Preferably the appliance will have simple control means which are provided with limited operating information associated therewith, such that it will not be necessary to take a course in how to operate the appliance before it can be put into operation. The primary reasonfor the Use and Care Book is to have a ready source of information available for answering questions that the user might have after the appliance has been operated for some time in order to gain the maximum benefit. One inherent difficulty with the average Use and Care Book is that they are small in size and easy to misplace, such that they are rarely available in the average household during the entire life of the appliance which may in many cases extend from to 20 years.

Some of the operating information that is needed almost every time the appliance is used is traditionally present along with the particular control device. There is another category of information which is needed only on rare occasions, and interestingly enough this type of information is usually rather extensive in scope and detail. Accordingly it is the intention of the present invention to separate the control information into two. categories and-isolate the control information which is used on rare occasions such that it is hidden when such information is not needed, and it can be displayed and illuminated when it is needed for maximum benefit to the user.

One example in the prior art of an attempt to solve this problem by using a lift-up information plate which in one position is out of sight and in another position is elevated into view is shown in the U.S. Pat. of C. E. Erickson No. 3,636,645, which is also assigned to the assignee of the present invention. This Erickson patent shows a backsplash or control console with a hinged information plate mounted on the top surface of the console such that in one position the panel is lowered to rest upon a downwardly and rearwardlyinclined top surface of the console, such that information marked on the top of the plate is hidden from view. In an alternate position of the information plate, the plate is hinged upwardly so that the plate moves forwardly and into a vertical position where its information may be read with ease.

The primary object of the present invention isto provide a lighted control console or backsplash with a movable cover plate with operating instructions marked on its underside such that in one position the instructions are hidden from view and in a second position the instructions are exposed and illuminated from a source of light of the console.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a control console of the class described with a lamp shield to hide the lamp of the console from view while at the same time to direct light rays from the lamp onto the operating instructions of the cover plate in its raised position,as well as to direct light rays onto the control panel of the console.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a lighted console of the class described wherein the lamp shield is easily removable for replacement of the lamp when necessary.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION fastened over the lamp means to hide it from view. A

movable cover plate is supported from the housing in either a first lowered position superimposed over the lamp shield or a second raised position which exposes the lamp shield and positions the cover plate in a generally vertical position. Operating instructions for' the control components are marked on the undersidev of' the cover plate, and the lamp shield includes an opening for directing light rays onto the underside of the cover plate when in the raised position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional elevational view taken on the line 2-2 of FIG. 1 showing some of the details of the housing of the console and the relative location of the front control panel, the top electric lamp, the over-,

lying lamp shield, and the hinged cover plate that remains inits. raised position.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional elevational view similar to that of FIG. 2, the main difference being that the hinged cover plate has been lowered to cover the lamp shield thereby hiding the operating instructions from view when they are not needed so as to simplify the appearance of the console.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Turning now to a consideration of the drawings and in particular to FIG. I, there is shown the upper portion of a free-standing electric range which has a horizontal cooktop 12 that includes a plurality of surface heating units 14. The oven that would be located beneath the cooktop 12 is not shown since the present invention centers around the nature of the control console 16 or backsplash which is arranged along the back edge of the cooktop 12 as is conventional in many major appliances that are usable within the home. Usually the control console 16 is a hollow box-like housing 18 formed of sheet metal that extends for the complete width of the appliance. In the preferred embodiment of this invention the front face of the console housing 18 forms a control panel 20 in which is supported a series of manually settable control means such as knobs 22 that are mounted on the shaft 24 of a typical control component 26. In this particular example, the face of the control panel 20 has been enhanced by the inclusion of a large size crystal 28 that is substantially coextensive with the control panel 20. Frequently this crystal 28 is provided with a decorative finish on its rear surface so as to render the crystal opaque while at the same time having a bright appearing glossy finish on its front side which provides an attractive appearance. In this particular example the control panel 20 is slightly inclined rearwardly from bottom to top so that it is generally perpendicular to the line of sight of a person standing in front of the appliance.

Turning to FIG. I, it should be noted that the control knobs 22 are provided with indicia and the same may be true of the crystal 28 in the area surrounding the knob. This indicia or operating information is made very brief to convey the necessary message to the user without being confusing or complicated. As an example only, the knob 32 at the left of the control console is for a combined oven thermostat and selector switch for controlling the operation of the lower oven beneath the cooktop 12. The next two dials 34 and 36 relate to an oven timer and deal with the start time and stop time. The next four knobs 38, 39, 40 and 41 are individual knobs for infinite heat control devices for each individual surface heating unit 14 thatis mounted in the cooktop 12. Next there is a lamp switch 43. These various control knobs 3243 are not described as being a critical arrangement for the use of the present invention but they are merely discussed in brief detail to give some background environment in which the present invention functions. Of course, these control components would be entirely different if the appliance 10 were an automatic clothes washer or a clothes dryer or an automatic dishwasher or a photocopy machine or the like.

At the top of the console housing 18, a single fluorescent Iamp 45 is located to substantially overlie the top edge of the crystal 28 of the control panel 20. While a single lamp 45 is traditionally used, it will be understood by those skilled in this art that a plurality of incandescent lamps could be used, or other alternatives are available. At each end of the lamp is a fluorescent lamp holder 47 and this lamp holder is mounted to the top wall 49 of the housing 18. It is highly desirable that this lamp 45 be recessed or hidden within the console such that it is not visible. As is best seen in FIG. 2, an elongated lamp shield 50 is positioned over the lamp 45. This lamp shield 50 is fastened on the housing 18 by two or more fastening screws 52 which screw into a suitable channel member 54 that is arranged between the lamp holders 47 at each end of the lamp 45. This lamp shield is a simple sheet metal angular member with a generally flat top portion 56 and a slight downwardly inclined front flange 58. This construction leaves an opening beneath the lamp 45 so that light rays may reach the crystal 28 of the control panel 20 and completely illuminate the controls of this control console 16.

There is also in addition to the lamp shield 50 a movable cover plate 60 that is assembled to the top of the housing 18 of the control console as by means of a hinge pin 62 which is held at its opposite ends to the housing 18 so that the hinge axis is substantially coextensive with the back edge of the top portion of the console 16. This cover plate 60 is slightly larger than the lamp shield 50, but it is similar in configuration to the lamp shield so that when the cover plate is in its lowered or horizontal position it is substantially coextensive with the lamp shield as is best seen in FIG. 3, This cover plate 60 has a substantially flat top surface 66 and a slightly inclined front flange 68 that substantially parallels the front flange 58 of the lamp shield 50 when the cover plate is down. The underside 70 of the cover plate 60 is provided with indicia or operating instructions as is best illustrated in FIG. 1. When this cover plate 60 is in this raised position it is well that'the underside 70 of the cover plate receives some of the light energy from the lamp 45. This is accomplished by forming an elongated depression 74 along the rear portion of the top wall 56 of the lamp shield. An elongated opening 76 is formed in the near side wall of this depression 74 for substantially the entire length of lamp 45 or at least for the length of the printing of information on the underside of the cover plate, such that this opening 76 is centered in the line of sight between the lamp 45 and the vertical center of the underside 70 of the cover plate 60 such that the lamp 45 remains hidden beneath the lamp shield, while the necessary light rays are allowed to shine through the opening 76 and completely illuminate the underside 70 of the cover plate 60.

Modifications of this invention will occur to those skilled in this art. Therefore, it is to be understood that this invention is not limited to the particular embodiments disclosed but that it is intended to cover all modifications and their equivalents which are within the true spirit and scope of this invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by letters Patent of the United States is:

l. A control console for an appliance comprising a housing enclosing a plurality of control components, a front wall of the housing being a control panel in which is mounted certain manual control devices for the control components, electrical lamp means located above the control panel for illuminating the control panel when the lamp means is energized, a lamp shield assembled over the lamp means to hide the lamp means from sight, and a movable cover plate arranged in'either a first generally horizontal position to overlie the lamp shield or in a second generally vertical position, and operating instructions imprinted on the underside of the cover plate, and annopening formed adjacent the rear of the lamp shield for directing light rays from the lamp means onto the instructions on the underside of the cover plate when the cover plate is in its second generally vertical position.

2. A control console as recited in claim 1 wherein the said lamp shield is open along its bottom edge for directing light rays down over the control panel, the said rear opening in the lamp shield comprising slot means extending for nearly the complete length of the lamp means.

3. A control console as recited in claim 1 wherein the said movable cover plate is generally a flat plate with a downwardly facing front flange, and hinge means formed along the rear edge of the cover plate and attached to the housing of the console whereby in the first horizontal position the cover plate encompasses the said lamp shield and in the second vertical position the lamp shield is exposed.

4. A control console that is arranged along the back of a major appliance and comprises a hollow housing enclosing a plurality of control components, a front wall of the housing serving as a control panel in which is mounted the manual settable means and indicating means of the control components, electrical lamp means mounted above the control panel, a lamp shield fastened over the lamp means, the bottom portion of the lamp shield being open to direct light rays down over the control panel, and a hinged cover plate having a first down position covering the lamp shield and a second raised position which exposes the lamp shield and positions the cover plate in a generally vertical position along the back edge of the console housing, operating instructions marked on the underside of the cover plate, the lamp shield including an opening for directing light rays onto the underside of the cover plate.

5. A control console as recited in claim 4 wherein the lamp means is a fluorescent lamp, and the lamp shield is removably fastened to the console housing for ease in replacing the lamp, the rear portion of the lamp shield being depressed so that the said opening in the lamp shield is in a downwardly inclined wall portion of the lamp shield so that the opening is interposed in the line of sight between the lamp and the underside of the control plate when the plate is in its vertical position. 

1. A control console for an appliance comprising a housing enclosing a plurality of control components, a front wall of the housing being a control panel in which is mounted certain manual control devices for the control components, electrical lamp means located above the control panel for illuminating the control panel when the lamp means is energized, a lamp shield assembled over the lamp means to hide the lamp means from sight, and a movable cover plate arranged in either a first generally horizontal position to overlie the lamp shield or in a second generally vertical position, and operating instructions imprinted on the underside of the cover plate, and annopening formed adjacent the rear of the lamp shield for directing light rays from the lamp means onto the instructions on the underside of the cover plate when the cover plate is in its second generally vertical position.
 2. A control console as recited in claim 1 wherein the said lamp shield is open along its bottom edge for directing light rays down over the control panel, the said rear opening in the lamp shield comprising slot means extending for nearly the complete length of the lamp means.
 3. A control console as recited in claim 1 wherein the said movable cover plate is generally a flat plate with a downwardly facing front flange, and hinge means formed along the rear edge of the cover plate and attached to the housing of the console whereby in the first horizontal position the cover plate encompasses the said lamp shield and in the second vertiCal position the lamp shield is exposed.
 4. A control console that is arranged along the back of a major appliance and comprises a hollow housing enclosing a plurality of control components, a front wall of the housing serving as a control panel in which is mounted the manual settable means and indicating means of the control components, electrical lamp means mounted above the control panel, a lamp shield fastened over the lamp means, the bottom portion of the lamp shield being open to direct light rays down over the control panel, and a hinged cover plate having a first down position covering the lamp shield and a second raised position which exposes the lamp shield and positions the cover plate in a generally vertical position along the back edge of the console housing, operating instructions marked on the underside of the cover plate, the lamp shield including an opening for directing light rays onto the underside of the cover plate.
 5. A control console as recited in claim 4 wherein the lamp means is a fluorescent lamp, and the lamp shield is removably fastened to the console housing for ease in replacing the lamp, the rear portion of the lamp shield being depressed so that the said opening in the lamp shield is in a downwardly inclined wall portion of the lamp shield so that the opening is interposed in the line of sight between the lamp and the underside of the control plate when the plate is in its vertical position. 